It’s National Cheap Flight Day on Wednesday, Aug. 23, and a new study says airline prices are dropping in the U.S. and Canada.
An analysis of CheapOair bookings data over the last two months shows that the average cost of a U.S. domestic airline ticket has dropped 25% since June 1st of this year, while U.S. international flight fares have decreased 24% for the same period.
The numbers reveal similar trends for Canada, where average fares for domestic flights are down 17% since June 1, and international flight fares are down 21 percent.
Edinburgh, Scotland. Kate Bielinksi/Unslpash Photo
“And there is more to get excited about,” CheapOair officials said. “While the final numbers will not be available until after the period ends, airfares for bookings to date in the United States for August and September are trending 21% down for domestic flights and airfares are 10% down for international when compared to the same period in 2022.”
National Cheap Flight Day originated from the industry trend where airfares tend to drop in price following the higher-priced summer travel season. Historically, late August is the time of year when the summer travel rush has ended and airlines are looking to attract travelers with reduced fall and holiday fares.
“It’s important to note that National Cheap Flight Day goes beyond just the day and marks the start of the off-peak season,” said Daniel Hayter, Senior Product Manager for CheapOair.ca. “With cost-of-living increases, any chance we can help Canadians save their hard-earned money is important to us.
“It should be noted that this does not mean that all airfare will decrease as some destinations may increase or stay the same depending on frequency and availability,” Hayter said.
“The mission of CheapOair.ca is to educate and aid consumers and travel professionals in both planning their travel accommodations and staying current on the most popular destinations.” officials said. “To review additional destinations to book this National Cheap Flight Day, visit CheapOair.ca.”
It’s harder for families with school-age kids to travel in September and October, but it’s a great time to visit popular destinations such as Europe. The crowds aren’t as bad in most area of Europe in the fall, and the weather is usually pretty good. Given the heat in Europe this summer, the fall should be a refreshing change. And keep in mind that the Mediterranean should still stay fairly warm over the next few weeks or even months.
Here’s a link to a story I wrote back in 2015 on 10 great places to visit in Europe in the fall, including Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and Greece. Prices and some details have likely changed in the interim, of course.
